Elm Park to host two tasty events

Thursday

Jun 20, 2013 at 6:00 AMJun 20, 2013 at 1:33 PM

By Barbara M. Houle CORRESPONDENT

The Big Dipper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival returns to Elm Park in Worcester on June 29, rain or shine.

The annual fundraiser for Children’s Friend in Worcester is a fun-filled family event that features ice cream from some of your local favorites, including Cold Stone Creamery of Millbury, Crystal Caves of Auburn and Janine’s Frostee in Ware.

The festival will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: $5, ages 10 and up; $1, ages 4 to 9; free for children 3 and younger.

Cold Stone Creamery in Millbury: Sweet Cream, Sweet Cream With Sprinkles, Chocolate With Chocolate Sprinkles, Country Time Pink Lemonade. Owners of the award-winning store, Paul and Karen Weldon and Eunice and John Malkasian, are longtime supporters of the Big Dipper event.

Crystal Caves in Auburn: Cotton Candy, Butter Crunch, Cake Batter, Red Velvet Cake, Peach. Owners Guy and Connie Powell have participated in the event for many years. Guy Powell, who makes the ice cream for Crystal Cave’s said one of the new flavor sensations this season is Salty Caramel.

A $10 donation will buy a ticket the day of the event, or visit www.thevinbin.com. Tickets also can be purchased at Vin Bin locations in Marlboro and Hopkinton.

Ticket sales and a portion of store sales the day of the event will go to Canine Partners for Life.

The fundraiser was established to support a specific dog organization each year in memory of Bella, a Golden Retriever who served as the Vin Bin’s longtime mascot. The family pet of Rick Lombardi, owner of the store, died in 2012.

“We are thrilled to be supporting the CPL organization this year because of their important work with bringing together man’s best friend with individuals in need,” said Lombardi.

Canine Partners for Life is dedicated to training service dogs, home companion dogs and residential companion dogs to assist individuals who have physical and cognitive disabilities.

•

Arturo’s Fusion Sunday, “From Seoul to Sicily,” will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. June 23 under a tent in front of Arturo’s Ristorante, 50 E. Main St., Westboro.

The annual event will benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance Research Fund at the UMass Medical School in Worcester.

Tickets in advance: $35 per person, $45 at the door.

Admission tickets and raffle tickets are available at Arturo’s Ristorante or Sapporo Korean BBQ and Sushi Restaurant, 50 E. Main St., Westboro.

Food, including braised boneless short ribs, southern fried chicken and sushi, will be provided by Arturo’s and Sapporo. Cash bar.

There also will be live music, raffles, auction and giveaways. Great raffle prizes, including Red Sox tickets, a private wine tasting for 10 guests with Julio’s Liquors in Westboro and more than $500 in Arturo’s gift certificates. There will be an Extreme Sports Raffle — “one winner takes all.”